Business contributes to Toys for Tots effort
By Paula Brewer
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Toys seem to take center stage this time of year, and local businesses are joining the effort to make sure local children don’t go without them under their holiday trees.
Staff Photo/Paula Brewer
TOY COLLECTION — Customers Gloria and Marcel Cyr of Fort Kent recently stopped by Verizon Wireless Zone in Presque Isle to drop off a toy for Toys for Tots. The store, and many other businesses in the area, feature collection boxes where people can drop off new, unwrapped toys which will be distributed as Christmas gifts for area children. From left are Gloria Cyr; Victoria Cote, assistant store manager; Marcel Cyr; and Dale Drost, store manager.
Toys for Tots in northern Aroostook County is a program of the U.S. Marine Corps League, Meo Bosse Detachment, and is led by coordinator Rudy St. Peter of Cross Lake. TFT collects new, unwrapped toys each year to distribute to children up to age 18 as Christmas gifts. The program benefits families throughout The County.
Toys for Tots representatives have placed collection boxes at many area businesses, including Verizon Wireless Zone in Presque Isle.
“We think it’s a fabulous program,” said store manager Dale Drost on Dec. 7. “I just can’t say enough good about it.”
Drost said St. Peter had been by to empty the full collection box, and he hopes customers — and non-customers alike — will help fill it up again. Gloria and Marcel Cyr of Fort Kent had stopped in to do business, but also to drop off a toy offering because they believe Toys for Tots is such a good cause.
Drost said the program means a great deal to him as it provides for families who find themselves unable to provide Christmas gifts for their kids.
“The children who are in need — it’s by no fault of their own,” he said. “If there’s anything we can do to help, we want to do it.”
He emphasized gifts collected locally actually stay in the area. “The toys do stay local. Collections are down from past years at the store, but there’s a chance to bring in toys until Christmas Eve,” he added. “We also have a Toys for Tots monetary donation box which Rudy collects.”
Drost worked with company officials to devise a promotion. “If you bring in a toy for the toy box, you qualify for $10 off any accessory of $25 or higher,” he said. “You don’t have to be a Verizon customer to contribute or take advantage of the promotion.”
He pointed out, though, that the focus is on the toys — and the children.
“As long as I’m manager here, we will have a Toys for Tots box here.”
